How You Can Use Your Primer To the Fullest

Ok, so we have always had a hunch that we might not be using our primer correctly. Either that, or we are just not using it to the best of its abilities. Therefore, we decided to connect with Makeup Artist and former TSS Senior Assistant, Mackenzie Brown, and former Dolled Up Contributor, Becca Ashmon to help us understand how to best use primer. Check out their explanations below and be sure to shop the products they recommend.

Mackenzie Brown (Kappa Alpha Theta, IG: @kenziemacbrown)
Site: www.youtube.com/kenziemacbrown

[Using your primer to the fullest] depends on the type of primer because they have different formulations. There is one from Hourglass that will help prevent oil buildup and I recommend that one to people who get oily in their T-zone because it will prevent their makeup from breaking up. If you mix that specific one with liquid foundation it makes your foundation waterproof. Some primers, like Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer when mixed with eyeshadow can help you use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner and it helps it stay longer. Some primers like the Porefessional are good if you have uneven skin texture because it evens it out. And Smashbox makes like 10 different primers for every sort of skin type and purpose. Also, if you put primer in your brows it makes it easier to use brow products because they won't budge and they'll be more pigmented.

Becca Ashmon (Tri Delta, IG: @beccaashmon)
Site: www.aprettyhotmess.com

Honestly, every face needs a good foundation and what makes a solid foundation you ask? Primer! Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, your face should be no different. Aside from giving your makeup a foundation to hold onto, primer can do a number of other things, from making pores appear smaller and reducing redness to helping reduce dark spots over time. So here is a list of some of my favorite primers and what it is they do!

1. Hourglass- Veil Mineral Primer 

Hands down my favorite primer of ALL time ! It is Jesus in a bottle (it saves) and goes on the face of EVERY bride I touch ! Hourglass is suitable for ALL skin types but if you are an oily girl like me then meet your new best friend. Veil is a mineral primer with an SPF of 15. Veil not only helps smooth and keep oils at bay, but it's also water resistant in case you happen to be a cry baby and tear easily at weddings and such (seriously I have cried through this stuff like ugly Kim Kardashian cried and managed to stay Beyoncé status...FLAWLESS). Bonus: It keeps makeup on my face for 12+ hours which is practically a miracle on this face !

2. Benefit- The POREfessional 

Aside from perhaps being one of the smoothest things to ever grace your face, Benefits POREfessional helps to minimize pores while also providing a surface as smooth as a baby's bottom.

3. Laura Mercier- Hydrating Primer 

If you're a girl with dry skin this primer is the one for you. All the benefits of primer plus hydration to keep you looking fresh.

4. Smashbox- Photo Finish Dark Spot Correcting Primer 

This primer does double duty as a makeup and skincare product and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots while also helping your makeup stay on and flawless .

How do you use your primer to the fullest? Share you primer tips with us in the comments below!

TSS Favorite Things {December Special Edition}

Tory Burch

TOPSHOP

Steve Madden

Smashbox

Victoria's Secret

Michael Kors

Category 5

Forever 21

We want to provide you with a holiday merchant list worth shopping from. Why? Because everything from our exclusive merchant list offers discounts for Cyber Monday. Throughout the year we have shared with you our Favorite Things and with the December holidays fast approaching, we want you to share in lots of savings. Above are a list of some our 'Favorite Things' merchants offering Cyber Monday sales that you should check out!

Got a merchant you love that has an amazing Cyber Monday sale? Share with us in the comments or hashtag #TSSCyberMonday via the merchant's Instagram.

Happy {Cyber Monday} Shopping!

TSS Favorite Things {July}

Sakura- Hat | Lipstick | Flats

Ali- Shoes | Makeup Palette | Earrings

Karen- Juicer | Sunglasses | Lotion

July has been a wonderful month for us and we've had so much going on!  We're currently working on some fun & exciting stuff for TSS on the back-end that we can't wait to share!  Still in this crazy month of July, we still found time to go shopping and give you our must-haves of July!

Sakura was determined to find a new lip color and found Twig by MAC!  It's a great color and goes wonderfully with MAC's lipliner called Whirl.  It has that perfect "Kylie Jenner" matte look and it's definitely a must-have color.  Ali is Miss Fashionista and you can never go wrong with black wedges!  These Halogen wedges goes perfectly with everything and you can dress it up or down!  Karen's been committed to eating healthy and let's just say, she's doing a fabulous job!  Getting a juicer can be a bit pricey, but with a great juicer like Breville, it's worth every penny!

We hope everyone had a wonderful month!

Rock Radiant Orchid In Your Beauty Routine

[Smashbox Photo Op  Eye Shadow Trio in Autochrome ][Marc Jacobs Blush in Outspoken ][YSL Mascara in Fascinatingly Violet][NARS Larger Than Life Lip gloss in Annes Folles ][Marc Jacobs Nail Polish in Oui ].

We’re well into the New Year and thus well into make or break time for all the resolutions we’ve set. I’ve never been one for resolutions but I always vividly remember one year I did. My senior year of high school I resolved to use color in my makeup routine. I told myself that I would pick a color every month and it would be my task to learn to use that color in wearable and approachable ways. That first month I chose purple and a MAC eye shadow called Parfait Amour and my love for color in cosmetics only grew from there. Looking back I find it fitting that Pantone’s color of the year is Radiant Orchid, a sort of hybrid of Fuchsia and Purple. So In honor of my resolution all those years ago,  here are my favorite  products to rock radiant orchid in your beauty routine, try them individually or all together to freshen up your look in 2014! 

Smoky Eye Perfection

The smoky eye is everywhere... it's one of the biggest makeup trends.  It compliments all skin tones, and it adds an extra element of glamour for those special nights out.  It takes a few steps to perfect the smoky eye look, and today I'm sharing my secrets with the TSS readers!

What you will need:

            1) Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

            2) Colossal Mascara

            3) Bobbi Brown Bone Eye Shadow

            4) Mac Cork Eye Shadow

            5) Mac Carbon Eye Shadow

            6) Mac Rice Paper Eye Shadow

            7) Mac Retrospeck Eye Shadow

            8.) Bobbi Brown Black Gel Eyeliner

Step One:

Apply primer all over the lids and lower lash line. I highly recommend Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. Your eye makeup will last all day without smudges!

Step Two:

Apply Bobbi Brown Bone to the brow bone of your eye.  Once you're done applying, use Mac Rice Paper on the lid stopping at the crease of your eye.

Step Three:

Apply Mac Cork through the crease of your eye, and extend slightly upward to the middle of the crease of your eye.

Step Four:

Where you have stopped in the middle of your eye with Cork, finish the crease by applying Mac Retrospeck to blend into the Cork.

Step Five: 

Use Mac Carbon to accent the corner or your eye, extending it outward.  For a more dramatic look, apply extra of the black Carbon shadow.

Step Six:

Line your lower lashline with Mac Cork, and apply Mac Retrospeck to the inner corner of your eye.

Step Seven:

Apply gel eyeliner and mascara.  Gel eyeliner gives a bold line with intense color.  After that, voila!  You

have the perfect smoky eye!

Photo Finish Look

 Foundation Primer: Smashbox-Photo Finish Luminizing

We finally got our Co-Founder, Karen, to dish out her secret to looking photogenic in photos!  No photoshop here folks! Karen said her secret to her photo finish look  in pictures is Photo Finish  Luminizing Foundation Primer.  "I recently discovered this product at Smashbox and it has made a huge difference in my photos!"  

What's the process of using this product?

"After you have applied your powder, take a pea size amount of the foundation primer and put it on the parts of your face where the light from the camera will reflect off of: your forehead, cheeks, bridge of nose, and chin. Use the beauty blender or your finger to smoothly rub it into your face."

Where can you buy it?

"You can usually get them at the Smashbox counter found in Nordstroms or at Macy's or QVC, but I would recommend buying it from Amazon  or Beauty.com "

What makes this product different from other primer products?

"I love this product because it is oil-free! A lot of foundation primers are oily and give off an oily glow look. The Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer gives off a natural, more matte glow that translates well in photos!"

Now that we know Karen's secret to her photo finish glow, lets all try it out (click here to try)! 

Let us know what other products you use to make your face glow in pictures; we would love to hear!